Easy opening end closure for containers



United States Patent Herman R. Markert Hlrtsvllle, South Carolina795,300

Jan. 30, 1969 Oct. 27, 1970 Inventor App]. No. Filed Patented EASYOPENING END CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Primary Examiner-George T. HallAttorney-C. Gordon McBride ABSTRACT: An easy-opening end closure for acontainer including a circular end wall having a peripheral bead and aline of weakness adjacent said bead to which is attached by means of arivet in overlying relationship a ring-type pull tab having a handleportion and body portion. An arcuately shaped side edge extends alongthe tab handle portion and body portion in nested relationship with theperipheral bead and with the major portion of the end wall exposed onthe other side of the tab. A projection is provided on the arcuate sideedge of the tab adjacent the tab front end for rupturing the line ofweakness when the tab is lifted permitting removal of the portion of theend wall defined by the line of weakness.

Patented Oct. 27, 1970 INVENTOR Herman R. Marker! ATTORNEY EASY OPENINGEND CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS This invention relates to containers and moreparticularly to an easy-opening container of the pull tab, full panelremoval llp Many containers in use today for packaging various materialsutilize a manually operated device referred to generally as a pull tab"for rupturing weakened lines on the metal wall of the container toprovide an opening for removal of the container contents. Such pull tabsare generally secured by means of a rivet or the like to the containerwall, in particular the container end wall, and may be of the ring-typearranged to be lifted easily by the user's fingers for easy removal of aportion of the end wall to provide the desired opening. Such easyopeningend walls or closures for containers may be of various types and onewidely used type provides for removal with the use of such a pull tab ofthe major portion of'the container end wall or what is referred to as a"full panel removal.

One such easy opening, full panel removal can end utilizing a pull tabis shown in US. Pat. No. 3,381,848 entitled EASY OPENING CAN END whichshows a ring type pull tab riveted to a can end provided with a line ofweakness or score line defining a removable panel. A force applying endor projection is provided on the front end of the tab so that manuallifting of the tab ruptures the line of weakness permitting easy removalof the panel constituting the major portion of the can end. In addition,as shown in the aforementioned patent, it is not uncommon to provide adepressed area on the can end adjacent the pull'tab ring portion so asto provide access for the users finger when the pull tab is to belifted.

In such present day easy-opening can ends, the pull tab and associatedcan end depression is generally centrally located relative to the canend so that the exposed area of the can end surrounding the pull tab anddepression is relatively narrow. The central location of such a pull.tab is considered necessary with present day designs in order to obtainthe desired leverage and to facilitate the full panel removal operation.The lack of any substantial expanse of area on such easy-openingcontainers is a real inconvenience and problem area for the retailersuch as the grocer who generally marks the price for the goods packagedin such containers on the end wall. As can be understood, the spacelimitation on the can end makes it difficult if not impossible toproperly stamp the selling price on such container ends using pricestamping devices of the type in common use today.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to'provide a new andnovel easy-opening end c'losurefor a container.

Another object of this invention 'is' to provide a new and novel pulltab end closure for a container which permits a substantial area on thecontainer end to be exposed for simple and easy price markingusingconventional stamping devices.

A further object of this invention is to provide anew and novel pull tabend closure for a container of the full panel removal type whichutilizes a single rivet forsecuring the pull tab to theend closure butwhich permits simple and easy full panel, pull tab removal operationthroughout a wide range of lateral pivotal movement of the tab-relativeto the end closure.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a new and noveleasy-opening end closure having a pull tab for full panel removal inwhich the pull tab may be lifted with a minimum of effort for full panelremoval, which utilizes a pull tab that is extremely compact and simplein construction so as to occupy a minimum of space on the container endwall, which permits the utilization of a well-known riveted constructionfor securing the pull tab to the container end wall and which eliminatesthe need for the precise location of the force applying end of the tabrelativeto the end wall line of weakness.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings.

The objects of this invention and other related objects are accomplishedby providing a circular end wall of sheet material such as metal onwhich is provided a peripheral bead defining a marginal edge. A circularline of weakness is alsoprovided on the end wall closely adjacent theperipheral head which defines a removable panel. A pull tab having arearwardly positioned handle portion and a'body portion having a frontend is secured by rivet means in overlying relationship with the endwall. An arcuately shaped side edge conforming substantially to thearcuate shape of the peripheral bead is provided on the pull tab whichextends along the handle portion and body portion and the pull tab ispositioned with this arcuately shaped side edge in closely spacedrelationship with the peripheral bead to leave exposed the major portionof the end wall defined by the other side edge of the tab. A laterallyextending, force applying projection is provided on the arcuately shapedside edge of the tab adjacent the front end and the tab is positionedwith this force applying projection lying in a preselected locationclosely adjacent the line of weakness.

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of theinvention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its organization and method ofoperation may be best understood by reference to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a container incorporatingtheend closure of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container of FIG. 1 illustrating the endclosure of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of the end closure of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 3in the direction of the arrows; and

7 FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of a portion of the pulltab incorporated in the end closure of FIG. 2 taken substantially inthedirection of the arrow 5 of FIG. 2.

As generally illustrative of the invention, there is shown in thedrawing, an end closure constructed in accordance with the invention anddesignated generally in FIG. 2 by the letter E. The end closure E isarranged to be positioned by a conventional seaming operation in closingrelationship with one-end of a container designated generally in FIG. 1by the letter C The container C may be of the type having alaminated'paper foil body and referred to generally as a compositecontainer. The end closure E includes a'circular end wall such as a canend designated generally by the numeral 11 to which is secured, as willbe explained hereinafter, a pull tab preferably body C. As is wellknown, such a seaming operation produces an end seam 13 by means ofwhich the closure E is secured to the end of container C in sealingrelationship as shown .in FIGS. 1, 2.

A circular line of weakness or score line 14 is provided in the can end11 which is positioned closely adjacent the peripheral bead 13 so as todefine a central panel 16 arranged to be completely removed'foropening'the container C and providing access to its contents. The scoreline 14 is suitably formed so as-to provide for easy rupture and tearingaway of the panel l6from the remaining portion of the container end 11,and, as is well-known, thistype of easy-opening container end isgenerally referred to as full panel removal type.

The pull tab 12 incorporated in the end closure E is preferably of thering type and comprises a rearwardly positioned handle portion 17 and abody portion 18 having a front end 19. The handle portion 17 defines anopen circular area 21 through which the users finger or fingers may beinserted to permit lifting of the tab 12 and opening of the container C.

The body portion 18 is formed with a depressed area or web 24 portionsof which are removed to provide openings 26, 27 as shown in FIGS. 2-4.The smaller opening '27 is arranged-to accommodate a hollow rivet 28formed by upsetting the material of the can end 11. The rivet 28 has itsupper end extruded radially outward to form acircumferentially extendingbead which overlaps the rim of the web opening 27 in th w ll. knownmanner. V

The tab 12 maybe formed from sheet material byany wellknown metalforming operation such as a stamping operation with at least a portionof the raw edges of the tab being turned difi'lcult if not impossible.With the novel positioning of the projection 29 on applicantls pull tabin combination withthe configuration of the tab; such lateral pivotalmovement is permitted around the rivet 28 asa pivot point in thedirection of the arrow [even to the extend wherein thejlifted tabl2moves to approximately the center of the panel 16 without affectinginwardlyasshown best in FIG. 4. For instance, the metal a forming thering 17 is turned inwardly at m asshown "in FIG. 4 to provide a smoothring or handle portion 17. The pull tab I2 is provided withan arcuatelyshaped side the rupturing of the line of weakness 14 by the projection29 in the manner described above. During such lateral pivotal I movementof the tab 12 in applicant's. invention, the projecedge 27extendingalong the handle portion 17 and body portion 18 as shown best in FIGS;'2, 3. The arcuate shape of the tab side edge 27 conforms substantiallyto the arcuate shape of the circular peripheralbead- 13, or seam 13 ofthe container. 'end 11 thereby permitting theside edge to' be positionedclosely adjacentthe bead 13 when the pull tab 12 is'secured to thecontainer end 1 l by means of the rivet 28 as shown.

The'other side edge-28 of the tab 12 also extending along the handleportion 17 and body portion 18 defines an exposed major portion of thecontainer end- 11, the pull tab' 12 overlying only a minimum portionof-the end 11 as shown. This major'p'ortion of the panel 11, identifiedby the numeral 11a,

therefore permits suitable 'indicia such as prices or the like to a bestamped thereon using conventional stamping'devices by merchants such asgrocers or the like. 7

A laterally extending force applying projection 29, is

formed on the tab side edge 27 adjacent the tab front end 19 whichruptures the line of weakness or score line 14 when the tab 12 islifted. As shown best in FIGS. 3, 5, this projection 29 is formed byindenting the tab side :edge 2'] to provide inclined surfaces 29a, 29bterminating in'a pointor tip 29c lying in a preselected locationadjacent the line of weakness 14 in the V position of the tab 12 on theend 11 shown in FIG. 3LThe tip 290 preferably is positioned closelyadjacentthc inner edge of the score line 14. I

In order to facilitate the-grasping of the handle portion or ring 17 ofthe tab 12, the can end 11 is preferably provided with a depression 31which underlies a portion of the ring 17 as shown. Thus, thevertical gapbetween, the handle 17 and i the bottom of the depressionl3l facilitatesthe grasping ofthe.

handle 17 by the user to lift the tab 12. e

tion 29 remains substantially adjacent the score line 14 while describedabove. y

While there has been described-what atpre'sent is considered to be thepreferred-embodiment of the" invention, it will be understood by those.skilled inthe art that various changes and modifications may be madetherein without decontinuing toperinit the easy rupturing action of thescore line parting from the invention. e I

shape of said circular peripheral bead and extending along said handleportion and said body portion, a laterally extending, force applyingprojection on said arcuately shaped side To open the container C withwhieh'the end closure E is as sociated, the handle portion 17 of the tab12 is lifted upwardly by the user so that the tab12 pivots on the rivet28 depressing Y the front end portionof the tab on the opposite side ofthe 'rivet 28 from the handle1l7 moving the projection 29 downwardly'lhe tip.2 9c therefore ruptures the score line 14' on both sides of thetip'29c pushing downwardly adjacent portions of the panel 16 inthe'well-known manner. A rearward pull then exerted on the tab 12 rupturingthe remaining portion of thescore' line 14 permitting the panel 1610 becompletely removed together with the tab 12.. 7

As has been pointed out inthe aforementioned patent, previouseasy-opening end closures using a pull tabsecured by a single rivetpermitted relative lateral pivotal'movement between the tab andcontainer end moving the puncturing or force applying end of the tabfrom the preselected Iocatio'nto" edge adjacent said front end, rivetmeans adjacent said body portion front end arranged to secure said pulltab in overlying relationship with said end wall with said arcuatelyshaped side edge in closely spaced relationship with said peripheralbead toleave exposed'the major portion of said, end wall defined by theother side edge of said taband with said force applying projection lyingin a preselected location closely adjacent said line of weakness.

2. An end closure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said handle portionis of annular shape.

3. ,An end closure in accordancewith claim 1 including a,

concave depression in said end wall in underlying relationship with atleast a portion of said handle portion.

4. An end closure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said tab other edgeis substantially straight and wherein said body portion includes adepressed web portion defined by said side edges, front end and handleportion, said web portion having an opening for'accommodating said rivetmeans to secure said pull tab to said end wall.

:5. An' endclosure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said projection isof wedge shape having a tip positioned closely adjacent said line ofweakness, and on an axis extending substantially perpendicular tosaidarcuately shaped side edge.

' "6.An end closure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said a locationwhere severence along the lineol' weakness became rivet means comprisesa single rivet pivotally securing said pull tab to said end wall so thatsaid pull tab may be moved to any desired position. 1 a

